Cape Town - The South African police have enlisted the help of Interpol to help trace a 30-year-old Cape Town chef who is believed to be missing in Dublin, Ireland.
Johan van Wyk of Durbanville was reported missing by a relative after he failed to board his flight to South Africa on February 13, said Dessie Rechner, founder of the Pink Ladies, a non-profit organisation that helps find missing people.
Rechner said that Van Wyk had left for Ireland on November 26 with Emirates Airlines, via Dubai to Dublin.
He called home three days later to say he had arrived safely.
On December 17, his family received a Christmas card from him. It was the last contact he made with his family and also the last time he used his bank account, said Rechner.
“He was due to come back on February 13 but he never got on the plane. What’s suspicious is he never cancelled or changed his flight. His tourist visa has since expired, so wherever he is now he is there illegally,” she said. “His family has been trying to contact him since last year without any success. They are now worried.”
Police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk said police were looking into a missing person’s report and Interpol in Dublin was investigating.
Rechner said missing person’s organisations from around the world were spreading the word about Van Wyk’s disappearance, adding he had previously worked as a chef aboard ships.
“We are considering that he might be travelling around Europe or working aboard a ship but what’s worrying is there’s no activity in his bank account. Hopefully Dublin Ireland Interpol can help locate him if he is still in Ireland, so his family can know he is OK,” said Rechner.
Cape Argus